Libya Security Highlights (January 27 – February 2, 2020)

On January 27, forces loyal to the internationally recognized GNA on January 27 seized the town of Abu Grein, south-east of Misrata, from the LNA.

In Misrata, the Libyan Army’s air defenses shot down on January 28 morning a drone provided by the UAE to Khalifa Haftar as it was preparing to carry out strikes.

In Tripoli, witnesses confirmed the approaching of two military frigates accompanied by a helicopter off the coast of Tripoli, in the first landing of Turkish soldiers in Libya.

On the international level, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed on January 31 that backing Haftar, instead of supporting the legitimate government and the Libyan people, is a betrayal of democracy.

ABU GREIN

• forces loyal to the internationally recognized Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) on January 27 seized the town of Abu Grein, south-east of Misrata, from the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by General Khalifa Haftar which had captured the town a day earlier. On January 26, Haftar’s forces launched a surprise attack on Abu Grein before GNA forces launched a counter-attack and recovered it; chasing Haftar’s forces to the Al-Wishka area [Marsad, 28.01.2020].

MISRATA

• the Libyan Army’s air defenses shot down on January 28 morning a drone provided by the UAE to Khalifa Haftar as it was preparing to carry out strikes. The media office of Volcano of Rage Operation said the drone was downed in eastern Misrata, posting footage showing the wreckage of the drone. Eyewitnesses said the drone was flying over eastern Misrata before being shot down in Al-Kararim area [Libya Observer, 28.01.2020].

TRIPOLI

• a civilian was killed and others were injured in indiscriminate shelling by Khalifa Haftar’s forces on Al-Kraimiya in south Tripoli, Volcano of Rage Operation’s media office said on February 1 afternoon, posting photos for the aftermath of the shelling that caused damage to houses and cars of the civilian residents. One civilian, Mohammed Shiha, was transferred to Al-Sawani field hospital for first aid medical care before sending him to the hospital, the Field and Support Medical Center said [Libya Observer, 01.02.2020];

• Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) said on January 30 it downed a drone in Tripoli. GNA forces said the drone was Russian-made and used for reconnaissance purposes, without giving further details. On January 28, the GNA announced the downing an armed drone belonging to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Misrata [Libyan Express, 30.01.2020];
• the United Nations said on January 30 it was suspending its services at a refugee centre in Libya over safety concerns and was evacuating the facility, as France revealed it had spotted a Turkish vessel delivering a military shipment to the war-torn country. Jean-Paul Cavelieri, head of the UN refugee agency in Libya, said his organization had learned military and police training exercises were being held just outside the refugee facility in Tripoli [Marsad, 30.01.2020];
• witnesses in Tripoli confirmed the approaching of two military frigates accompanied by a helicopter off the coast of Tripoli, in the first landing of Turkish soldiers in Libya. The witnesses pointed out that the two frigates began the landing operations of Turkish soldiers, at dawn of January 29, Wednesday, in the Al-Shaab port in Tripoli, by a cargo ship that was accompanying the two frigates [Address Libya, 29.01.2020];

• three children have been killed and others injured in Al-Hadba al-Badri neighborhood as Khalifa Haftar’s forces have fired indiscriminate shells on residential areas in southern Tripoli. The Volcano of Rage Operation’s media office said on January 28 that one of the random shells fired by Haftar’s forces fell near Rajab al-Naeb School in Al-Hadba al-Badri area. Meanwhile, the media consultant of the Health Ministry Ameen al-Hashimi confirmed the number of killed children and said other children were wounded, adding that they were on their way to school and that they aged between 9 and 12 years old [Libya Observer, 28.01.2020]. 

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• the High-level Committee of the African Union (AU) on Libya condemned the continuation of fighting south of Tripoli, calling for the need for measures to enhance the ceasefire accompanied by a monitoring mechanism in which the AU would be part of [Libya Observer, 01.02.2020];
• Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed on January 31 that backing Haftar, instead of supporting the legitimate government and the Libyan people, is a betrayal of democracy. President Erdogan rejected the criticisms leveled at his country for supporting the internationally recognized Government, especially from those who support war barons, whose hands are stained with innocent blood, according to Anadolu news agency. “Haftar is continuing his attack on Tripoli while Arab and foreign countries are still supporting him from Sudan to Russia,” Erdogan stated [Libya Observer, 01.02.2020];
• Tunisian President, Kais Saied said that Tunisia shares a common vision with Algeria in its approach to the Libyan crisis, clarifying that they will develop a common road map that would contribute to moving forward towards a lasting solution to the crisis, in the framework of a Libyan-Libyan dialogue and in accordance with international legitimacy [Libya Observer, 01.02.2020];
• Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the coordination of the agreements concluded at the Berlin Conference on Libya with the parties to the Libyan conflict, explaining that this measure is necessary in order to confirm the sequence of steps through the UN Security Council [Address Libya, 01.02.2020];
• the European Commission stressed the need “for all parties and states to respect the arms embargo on Libya,” warning of “the consequences of the situation in Libya on the security of the European Union and the security of the Libyans themselves and neighboring countries.” [Address Libya, 31.01.2020];
• the Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Hossam Zaki, affirmed that the transfer of fighters to Libya is fueling the cycle of war rather than stopping it, and puts Libya and the region in a major crisis, in addition to the continuing threat to the security of the Libyan neighbors [Address Libya, 31.01.2020];
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged on January 31, the presence of his forces in Libya, saying that his country had intervened in Libya at the request of the Fayez al-Sarraj government [Address Libya, 31.01.2020];
• Turkey’s deployment of troops to war-torn Libya to head off the threat of private Russian military contractors threatens a significant escalation in the months-long conflict, the top US military officer in Africa said on January 30. Africa Command chief Gen. Stephen Townsend said the ongoing fighting in the country has left the international community “paralyzed” with “no real progress toward a political solution.” [Marsad, 30.01.2020];
• the UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame said in his briefing at the Security Council on January 30 that ceasefire in Libya remained ink on paper as artillery shelling exchanges increased lately between the two sides of the conflict, adding that Haftar’s forces attacked Libyan Army forces under the command of Government of National Accord (GNA) in Al-Wishka, using all kinds of weapons, including drones [Libya Observer, 30.01.2020];
• a Sudanese minister announced on January 29 that his country called on the UAE to return Sudanese citizens who were sent to the areas controlled by the militias of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar, who is supported by Abu Dhabi in Libya [Marsad, 30.01.2020];
• the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that France was responsible for the destabilization of the situation in Libya, following French President Emmanuel Macron’s critical remarks about the Turkish policy on the conflict-torn Arab nation. On January 29, Macron accused his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of violating the agreements reached at the Berlin conference on Libya in terms of refraining from interference in the Libyan civil conflict on either of the rivals’ side [Marsad, 29.01.2020];
• the Russian Foreign Ministry said that parties in Libya have shown a general commitment to the truce in Libya, despite some violations. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov reiterated his country’s support to the 5 + 5 Military Committee’s meeting as soon as possible, disclosing that Haftar might conduct a visit to Moscow in the coming period [Libya Observer, 29.01.2020];
• the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Abu Dhabi is backing Khalifa Haftar and the Russian mercenaries fighting on his behalf in Libya, adding that the United Arab Emirates is bankrolling thousands of Russian fighters who support the forces controlled by Haftar, whom he derided as a “desert lord.” [Libyan Express, 29.01.2020];
• the Chargé d’Affaires of the British Embassy Nicholas Hopton confirmed that Britain is preparing a draft resolution in the Security Council that would bring a genuine solution to the Libyan crisis. Hopton clarified during his meeting with the High Council of State (HCS) head, Khaled al-Mishri that the resolution urges the United Nations and the international community to take all measures to achieve a ceasefire, through a monitoring mission and other means, according to the HCS Information Office [Libya Observer, 28.01.2020];

• German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed on January 27 with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad, developments in Libya and its impact on the region. The two sides emphasized the need to abide by the ceasefire, and to create a space for dialogue in order to preserve the lives of Libyans [Libya Observer, 28.01.2020];
• Germany on January 27 urged UN Security Council members to adopt a resolution on Libya to stop continuing military attacks and violations of arms embargo in the country. Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas deplored violations of the cease-fire despite pledges made by conflict parties and regional actors at the Berlin Conference on Jan. 19 [Libyan Express, 27.01.2020].